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The United States tightened its visa waiver program Monday in the wake of the Paris terrorist attack

Author:Hopely Li

Release on :2015-12-01

The
United States tightened its visa waiver program Monday in the wake of the Paris
terrorist attacks, adding new screening for travelers headed to the U.S. from
38 countries around the world who now are allowed to enter the country without
a visa.

The
White House said the country's homeland security agency is immediately altering
its electronic visa-free clearance system to capture information on whether
U.S.-bound travelers have made any trips to countries the United States
considers to be a "terrorist safe haven."

In
addition, Washington said it is considering pilot programs to add the use of
biometric screening for travelers, such as taking their fingerprints or
photographs, to the monitoring process before passengers are allowed to board
flights headed to the United States.

Each
year, 20 million foreign visitors head to the U.S. from the 38 countries the
U.S. has partnered with in the visa-free program. The White House said
authorities have repeatedly increased their scrutiny of U.S.-bound travelers in
recent years and are tightening them even more "given the terrorist
attacks in Paris and the ongoing threat posed by foreign terrorist
fighters."

The
White House said it is seeking quick congressional approval for some of the new
security measures, including an increase in fines, from $5,000 to $50,000,
against airlines that fail to verify a traveler's passport data. The U.S. is
also looking to increase information sharing about possible terrorists among
the 38 countries and the international police agency Interpol, and to better
track lost and stolen travel documents.